12B - Michigan Daily WeekenPvagazine -. Thursdays Dec er 3, 1998.
0 0 0 0 Thursday, D4
Video Classic of the Week
'Swingers' is always
worth catching again
From Theodore Cardman's
backyard .
... to over 450,0
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By Matthew Barrett
Daily Arts Writer
School is hard.
Finals. Term papers. CRISP.
So take a break from the grind and rent
"Swingers," a comedy you can roll with.
"Swingers" is the story of five
wannabe actors who tool around Los
A-gles looking for jobs and, more
importantly, beautiful babies. Yet their
drives for digits are only a small part of
what makes this a must-rent for rounders
and squares alike.
The movie starts with Mike (Jon
Favreau) a struggling comedian moaning
about his old girlfriend. He's in Los
Angeles and she's in New York, and he
misses her so much, and he keeps getting
shaqed by other girls. Simply put, things
are on the down tip for old Mike. And no
matter how many times his friends tell
him that he's so money and he doesn't
even know it, he just doesn't buy it.
Trent (Vince Vaughn), Mike's friend
has heard enough of the whining and
decides the only cure is a late night run to
"Vegas, Baby, Vegas." From here the
movie explodes for the next 90 minutes,
never letting up with its non-stop humor.
"Swingers" hits on everything from
"Goodfellas" to House Of Pain and does
it in style. In one scene the characters are
talking about Quentin Tarantino ripping
off other movies, and in the next they are
stealing shots from him. The film also
boasts the most vicious game of hockey
on Sega Genesis ever to grace the big
screen.
Favreau (most recently seen in "Very
Bad Things"), who also wrote the film's
script, is perfect as the guy who just can't
seem to shake his ex. Mike whimpers
through his encounters with girls, the low
point coming during a tough encounter
with the dreaded answering machine.
Painful encounters aside, Vaughn
steals the show in a dead-on performance
as Trent, the ringleader of the group.
Vaughn's over-the-top acting fuels the
film and rightfully catapulted him to star-
dom. The actor's latest work can be seen
starting Friday as he tackles the part of
Norman Bates in the updated version of
"Psycho."
Also look for a pre-Rollergirl appear-
ance by Heather Graham, as the girl that
catches Mike's eye at the bar. Graham is
another person who basically came out of
nowhere for "Swingers" and has seen her
career take off afterwards. Although she
doesn't appear until late in the film,
Graham gets the job done playing sly
with the guys and gives Trent reason to
proclaim, "It's on.
The film's high point comes when
Mike, desperate for a baby that he can get
his hands on, finally strikes gold on the
dance floor. In a swing dancing scene
that lifts the spirits, cleanses the soul,
and makes viewers happy to be alive,
Mike dances his heart out with a beau-
tiful baby he can roll with.
AP PHOTO
With snow on the way any day there will be many a day when you wake up with the ground absolutely white. Though you may
have class in less than 25 minutes you better get up because a day of cancelled classes due to excessive snow is far from likely.
Hopng for a snow dav to CanCe
classes? Don't hold your br!&*eath
Ban k~tripe
The
By William Nash
Daily Staff Reporter
Uncross your fingers. Save that
snow chant. Let go of the dreams of
class-less weekdays due to a snow-in
and instead, save that energy to put
on your golashes and bundle up.
It's been more than 20 years since
the last time the University was
closed due to winter weather.
Most University employees can't
even remember the last snow day.
Associate Vice President for
Business Operations Hank Baier, a
University employee for seven
years, doesn't recall one.
"It would take an act of God to
have one," he said.
Actually, it would only take an act
of Lee Bollinger.
According to the University's
Standard Practice Guide only the
"President or his designated repre-
sentative" can announce an
"inclement weather period."
The president can only do so after
consultation with local meteorolo-
gists and local, county and state
police officials.
When deemed "inclement weath-
er," the "University will continue to
provide as many of (its regular) ser-
vices as possible, with particular
emphasis on all the services which
are basic to health care and daily
sustenance."
Very rarely has daily sustenance
not included holding regular class.
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prepares rabbis for congregational
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creates a learning community com-
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fosters an informal participatory
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* applies the vision of Judaism as an
evolving religious civilization to studying
Jewish thought, history and practice
" unites traditional learning and modern
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" provides innovative programs for Jewish
Ethics, Women's and Gender Studies
combines intensive course learning and
practical internships
..I
RRC announces full tuition merit scholarships plus living
expenses for two rabbinical students entering the College in
the Fall of 1999. Renewable annually for up to five years.
Applications must be completed by March 1, 1999.
Other scholarships and financial aid also available.
Ifyou want to study in an environment that will support your personal journey
and help you prepare to serve the Jewish people, consider RRC. Together we can add
vitality to Jewish life. We invite you to come and visit in suburban Philadelphia.
CONTACT
Rabbi Reena Spicehandler
Dean ofAdmissions
Reconstructionist
Rabbinical College
1299 Church Road
Wyncote PA 19095
5) 576800 ext. 5
E r r
What does
a 2-year-old
child
know
that
a chimp
NEVEWIL
FIND OUT IN LINGUISTICS 211
INTRODUCTION TO LANGUAGE
Lecture: MW 12-1 Discussion: F 9, 10;,11,12,1
I-]
Only long-time University
employees can recall the last snow
day, which occurred in January
1978.
The University "was closed for
one or two days," said History Prof.
Nicholas Steneck, who teaches a
class on the history of the University
of Michigan. "The snow storm got
so bad I guess they thought it threat-
ened public safety."
Before 1978's blizzard, the second
most recent snow day came in the
late '60s.
"I think it was 1967," said Capital
Planning Assistant Director Fred
Mayer. "It snowed so heavily the
roads couldn't be cleared before
classes."
So why have there been two in the
last three decades when most high
schools get at least that many days
off in every year?
Baier speculated that with so
many other services that must be
performed on a daily basis, it only
makes sense to hold class.
"The University depends on ser-
vices like the campus police, the
power plant, and food service,"
Baier said. "Since they are a neces-
sity, classes are usually able to con-
tinue on."
Another reason the University
could be hesitant to declare snow
days is because, unlike students
attending public high school,
University students pay for and
expect to attend classes.
With finals rapidly approaching,
some students may be praying to
have finals postponed due to
inclement weather, despite their
investment in their education.
After 20 years, maybe a snow
storm is due, then again maybe not.
Feeling lucky?
SUse Mca rd ebit anywhere you See the
I ncludling:
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A~ V~~it
+ BankStripe is now Mcard Debit and the change
ENHANCED
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For more information visit the Mcard home
page, MCard Center, or any
Na
University of Michigan McardC Center
Student Activities Building, Room 1000
515 E. Jefferson
95 - Mcard (956-2275)
www.mcard.umich.edu
* Requires Mcard to be linked to a National City checking account.
National City 0 Member FDIC
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